After
reports surfaced that Major League Baseball was prepared to
give Alex Rodriguez a lifetime ban, his representatives and the
league are
negotiating a settlement, TJ Quinn of ESPN's Outside The
Lines reports.

There are no hard numbers yet, but Quinn says MLB hopes that
A-Rod will agree to sit out this year and at least all of next
year without appealing the decision.

This is a significant development.

As recently as
this afternoon, Rodriguez's representatives have said he'll
appeal any penalty.